Marie Joyce (Bland) Peak

Ms. Marie Joyce (Bland) Peak, age 93, of Sanford, NC entered eternal rest on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at her residence.

The Obituary

Ms. Marie J.B. Peak was born November 11, 1931, the daughter of the late Eli H. Petty Sr., Bessie Wilson, and Thomas (Jack) Wilson.

Our Heavenly Father called her home from her residence of 2013 Hope St., Sanford, North Carolina with her family by her side on March 6, 2025.

Marie was baptized in 1945 at Wall Street Baptist Church, now First Calvary Baptist Church. At Wall Street Baptist Church she was the Church Clerk, Sunday School Teacher, and Vacation Bible School Teacher, Director of the youth department, assisted with the Kiddie and Junior Choir, the Director of the Kiddie and Junior Usher Boards. Under her direction, the youth department had a Christmas play and an Easter play every year. The youth department also did speeches on Mother's Day, Father's Day, and celebrated Children's Day. She was also a member of the Senior Usher Board and Senior Choir. At First Calvery Baptist, she was a member of the
Senior Usher Board and the Sanctuary Choir. She attended church regularly until her health began to fail.

Occasionally, she would be at church when her granddaughter, Genia Bland (more like a daughter), brought her to church. Marie attended and graduated from Lee County Training School in 1948 (now W.B. Wicker School).

After three children, she went on to continue her education, graduating from Lee County Industrial Education Center (now Central Carolina Community College) in 1965 with a degree in Practical Nursing. After she got her license, she worked at Lee County Hospital as an LPN, then at Central Carolina Hospital in the ICU department. After 30 years in health care, she retired in 1995.

She was a member and Past Worthy Matron of James Hill Chapter #63 Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Peak, five brothers, Eli H. Petty Jr., Percy (Mickey) Petty, James (Couchie) Petty, Thomas (Tom) Wilson, and Larry Wilson; one sister, Trudy P. Chalmers; one grandson, Willie (Scooter) Cooke II, and one son-in-law, Willie J. Cooke.

She leaves her loved ones with memories forever, sons, Marion (Gene) Bland Jr. (Ruth) and Benny Bland; daughters, Myrtle B. Cooke, Marian (Genia) Bland; nine grandchildren, Thomas Bland (Sia), Steven Bland (Kisher), Tiffany Bland, Jeffrey Cooke (Angela), Shannon Cooke (Sharlyn), Malachi Cooke, Danyelle Cooke, Vincent Bland, and B.J. Bland; twenty-seven great grandchildren, and seventeen great-great grandchildren; brothers, Harold Wilson (Faye), Joe L. Mitchell, Samuel J. Petty (Celia); sister, Pamela Foxx; a special granddaughter-in-law, Erica Cooke; and a special cousin, Jane Atkinson.

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Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Sanford, NC